Mahlangu was a popular freedom fighter and one of the youngest uMkhonto Wesizwe soldiers who, at the age of 23, was executed under the apartheid laws after being wrongfully accused of murder and terrorism.

The scholarship is intended to assist the young people to increase their chances of accessing quality higher education, compete favourably in the labour market and contribute to skills development.

On the day of the launch, President Zuma will bestow scholarship awards to well deserving South African youth who would pursue full time studies that fall within the priority growth sectors, critical and scarce skills areas as outlined in the labour planning frameworks of the country.

President Jacob Zuma will on Friday launch the Solomon Mahlangu Scholarship Fund which aims to avail financial support to deserving South African youth especially from rural areas The scholarship fund was established by National Youth Development Agency NYDA in the Presidency in honour of Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu